Life is short. It passes by very quickly.
Don't try to do too much. I think it is better to do a few things well than to do many things not too well.
Keep a few photographs of people, places and memories important to you.
People will hurt you. Try to forgive them.
Keep in touch with your family and friends at least once or twice a year, more often if possible.
Walk outside under the sky, close to the trees, to water, to nature.
Try to start each day anew.
Always have something you're reading -- a good newspaper, magazine or book.
Have an idea of goals you're working toward for the year, maybe even for five and for ten years.
Everyone can teach you something important.
Admit your mistakes. Learn from them. Move on.
Give yourself some slack. You're human. You're not God.
Give others some slack. They're human. They're not God.
Don't pay too much attention to the way people look or dress or live. Try to pay more attention to their heart and to their soul.
Intelligent people are not necessarily good people.
Poor people are not necessarily bad people.
Bad people are not necessarily totally bad. There are probably some sparks of good in them.
Saintly people probably have a rough side to them.
Stand by your convictions. Sometimes this is very lonely, but try to do it.
Don't feel powerless. Talk up for yourself and your loved ones to people in authority. Challenge them to do the right thing. Go as high above them as you have to go to get what is right.
Eat healthy.
Exercise.
It's nice to have a few plants.
When you meet wise people, be humble enough to know it and to learn from them.
Try to do a few things in life that are important, and not too many things that are trivial.
Take a personal interest in one or two lonely, oppressed or forgotten people. You can help improve their situation. You'll probably benefit from your relationship to them in many important ways. (Please see post TOUCH ONE LIFE DEEPLY.)
If you don't avoid cigarettes, alcohol and drugs altogether, at least use them only lightly to moderately.
If you borrow something, give it back in reasonable time and in good condition.
If you lend something out, make note of who has it, and remind them after some time to return it.
Don't spend more money than you bring in. Live within your means. Try to put some money away in savings.
If you need help with something, ask for it. Get the help and benefit from it.
It's nice to exchange a few gifts for special occasions. Don't go overboard with this.
Don't own too much stuff. If you're not using something, give it away or sell it to somebody who can use it.
Don't believe everything you see, or hear or read. Try to discern the truth from lies, deception, hidden messages and hidden agendas.
Be very cautious, alert and defensive while driving. Wear your seatbelt. Keep your car in good repair. Change the oil regularly.
Media -- newspaper, magazine, radio, television, movie -- is a tool. It has done some great things and some miserable things. Know the difference. Encourage media to do more great things and fewer miserable things.
It's not important to own the biggest, newest, fanciest and best home.
It's not important to own the biggest, newest, fanciest and best automobile.
Elected officials are elected to represent your interests and the common good. Tell them who you are and what you want.
If you're not happy with the work situation you're in, try to improve the situation, or try to find a work situation you will be happier with.
Elderly people do not have to live in nursing homes. Let's find ways to support them to live with their family and friends and neighbors. Everyone will benefit.
Many people in the world live in miserable conditions. Some of these people live close to where you live. Some live across your state or across the nation. Others live across the world. Try to make a difference for a better life for at least a few of these people.
Nature is the greatest art.
Children need quality time, care, attention and example.
Each life is precious and probably has a lot to contribute to the rest of us.
Watching too many sporting events isn't necessarily a great way to spend your time.
Try to stop everything every once in a while. Slow down. Do nothing. Think. Be. Sleep.
One or two good friends can be great when things get tough for you.
Try to conserve natural resources. Don't waste. Recycle.
A simple life can be a very good life.
Even a simple life is often not very simple.
Everything takes more time to accomplish than you anticipate.
Rain is a joy.
Someone needs to figure out a solution to traffic jams and bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Learn to say no to some of the things requested of you. Know when to say yes.
Try to keep things relatively clean and organized. Perfection is probably not necessary. Sloppiness is probably not helpful.
I can be a lot meaner, uglier, cruel, hurtful and deceitful than I ever imagined I could. I have a lot to work on.
You've got to work hard for just about everything. There are no free handouts.
You can't have it all. Often saying yes to this means saying no to that.
Sometimes commitment to hang in there and give it your best shot over and over again is very important. Sometimes to say enough is enough and to get out is important. Often it is difficult to know which of these two to do.
Being awake, alone, under the sky in the middle of the night is a great joy.
I deeply believe that: God is. God loves. God creates beauty. God desires good. God wants us to do the right thing. God helps us to do the right thing. God forgives.
The great religions of the world have much in common. This is not to say that all religions are the same. There are real differences.
I know I am different at 40 from when I was 30, from when I was 20, from when I was 10. And yet, in some mysterious way I am still quite the same.
I do hope we can see and know each other again when our lives here on earth are over. Maybe there things can be different and better between and among us.
My life could have turned in many different directions. Apparently the decisions we make along the way make a lot of difference on who, what, when, where, why and how we end up. Make decisions carefully. Anticipate the consequences.
Respect the earth. She is a good and beautiful home.
Don't keep putting off whatever it is you want to or need to do. Don't wait too long. If you wait too long, things may change and you may never get the chance.
Trust your instincts.
Express your love, your care and your concern along your way through life.
Part of me wants to rise to the heights, and part of me wants to sink to the depths. This seems like a forever day-to-day struggle.
Follow your bio-rhythms. I am a night person.
Libraries and bookstores are gold mines.
The law is not always right. Do what is right.
Just because you can do something does not mean that you should do it. Try to do what you should do. Don't do what you should not do.
Sometimes you just have to move on.
I've spent a lot of time in neutral and reverse. I think that's been okay. I don't regret it.
Addiction of any type will bring you to the ground quickly and painfully. Fight that beast with everything you can until you are in control and not it. If and when you slip up, resolve again and again to get back on your feet. Get friendship, support group and/or professional help if you think it will help you in the fight.
I don't know a thing about the stock market. I don't think I'm missing much.
The person-to-person encounter is what makes life mostly what it is.
Be slow to judge and quick to forgive. I don't do either of these very well. I am making some progress.
It is important to look around you and pull some people up. It really doesn't cost you anything, and even if it does the price is almost always well worth it.
I worry a lot about what we are doing to ourselves. I wish we would stop the harm and do more good.
We apparently have a lot of freedom to have many and varied relationships, to do all kinds of things with our time and our money, and to buy and sell many and varied products and services. This does not mean, though, that we have to or even should do a lot of these things. Discriminate. Generally speaking, do what is important. Skip what is not important.
All things considered, I really don't know that I have made much of a difference for the better to anyone along the way. I hope that I have, but I really just don't know.
Intelligence is not wisdom. Wisdom can run circles around intelligence.
Prayer is important.
Humility is important.
Courage is important.
Perseverance is important.
Now, I encourage you to develop your own sense of truth and wisdom, your own version of I've Come To Realize. I think we all have a lot to learn from each other.
Peace,
c. 1995 FJS